Tampon



Oc'z't. 13, 1942. JgR'. cRocKFoRn TAMPON Filed April 18, 1941 R. m m V m c/osqU/z/ Croclyforal orpg Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UNITED s'rATss Pri'iizN'iv OFFICE n TAMRON l Joseph R. Crockford, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application April 18, 1941, Serial No. 389,099

i claim. (ci. 12s- 263) This invention relates to tampons and more particularly to the type employed during the menstrual period. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a tampon, and an applicator therefor by which the tampon is inserted in the body orifice with ease and convenience.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a tampon composed of an absorbent material, such as cellulose or viscose sponge. a tampon of this character being more fully described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 341,811, or of some other absorbent material, and an applicator attached to the tampon and preferably located at and ex- I tending from the rear end thereof, whereby the 4 `applicator may be employed to urge the tampon into proper position in the'body orifice and, when the tampon has reached the proper position. be separated and removed from the tampon without shifting the position of the placed tampon or dislodging it.

In the accompanyingdrawing forming a part hereof, Fig. l is` a side elevation of a tampon and attached applicator, constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The tampon is shown at l, the same preferably, but not necessarily, being composed of cellulose or viscose sponge material, and being generally cylindrical in shape, having a conical front end 2 and a relatively fiat rear end I. The applicator, shown at 5, preferably consists of a section of tubing of cardboard, Celluloid or any other suitable material, having one end snugly fitted into a relatively shallow recess or dpression 4 formed in the rear end of the tampon. 'I'he diameter of the recess or depression l is such that lthe frictional engagement of the applicator with the wall of the recess serves to hold the applicator attached to the tampon, yet at the proper time and when the tampon has been pushed into position within 'the body prince, to permit the tampon to be withdrawn vwithout shifting the position o! or dislodging the tampon. It.is also to be noted that the diameter of the tampon is greater than that o! the applicator so that the projecting vvportion of the rear end l of the tampon constitutes an annular shoulder around which the vaginal wall embraces and serves to hold the tampon'against displacement whiie the applicator is being drawn away.

displacement, and said cord extends out of the rear end of the tampon andpasses through the interior of the applicator. 'Ihe outer or iree end of the applicator is provided with a reinforcing bead I and extending through the same and inwardly therefrom for a short distance is l a slot V8 through which 4the cord 6 is passed.

The cord frictionally engages the sides of the slot, the free end 9 of the cord extending lateral- 1y from the slot, as'clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cord 8 is drawn taut and since it is held in the slot 8, the saine works in co-operation with the snug fit of the applicator within the recess I, to hold the applicator attached to the `tampon until the same is required for use. When The tampon is provided with a withdrawal string or pull-cord I, the same being provided at one end with a. knot 1 embedded in the body. of the tampon and preferably below the surface of the same, thereby holding the cord against itis desired to insert the tampon in position, the

` free end 9 of the cord is drawn out of the slot 8, and the tampon held by the ,applicator is forced into position in the body oriflce. properly positioned therein, the applicator is withdrawn. This can be easily done without dislodging the position of the tampon, since the tampon is of larger diameter than theappiicator and it will be gripped and held by the vaginal walls while the applicator has its end drawn out of the recess I and is pulled away from the tampon.

While I have herein suggested that the applirecess from the end of the tampon and hold the applicator in position merely by the cord. These and other modiiications are entirely possible without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

With the arrangement disclosed, handling or ltouching of the tampon is avoided, the insertion drawal cord on the tampon extendingthrough the tube, the tube being notched, the notched portion of saidtube engaging the cord and holding it tensloned to thereby cause said cord to v hold the'V tube and tampon together in operative relation.

JOSEPH R. CROCKFORD.

When 

